Form panel and apparatus for use therewith



3 sheets-sheet 1 N. GARRETT FORM PANEL AND APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH Filed Oct. 5, 1931 June 26, 1934.

WVE/VTOF June 26, 1934. N. GARRETT 1,963,985

FORM PANEL AND APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH Filed Oct. 5,- 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 26, 1934. N, GARRETT 1,963,985

FORM PANEL AND APPARATUS FOR USE THERE-WITH Filed Oct. 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 rsai dnla Wye-N70? Patented June 26, 1934 FORM PANEL APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH Neal Garrett, Glendale, Calif i Application October 5, 1931, Serial No. 566,963

11 Claims.

This invention relates to form panels and apparatus for use therewith and especially to a form panel and apparatus adapted to be used in the methods of construction set forth in my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 155,699, filed December 18, 1926; 257,357, filed February 27, 1931; 561,392, 561,393, 561,394 and 561,395, filed September 5, 1931; and 566,958, 566,959, 566,960 and 566,961, filed October 5, 1931.

An object of this invention is to provide an extremely light and inexpensive form panel adapted for use in erecting cementitious structures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a form panel so constructed that when a pair of panels are placed back to back they will automatically shift and stay in lateral alinement and will occupy a space less than twice the thickness of a single panel so as to facilitate the handling and storage of the panels.

A further object of this invention is to provide an extremely adjustable apparatus for building cementitious structures in which means is provided for spacing form panels any desired distance apart and in which rods provided with a plurality of holes for adjusting the spacing of form panels are eliminated.

Other objects of the invention are made apparent in the following detailed description.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan View of the face of a form panel;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the back side of a form panel with the central portion broken away;

Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of a seat removed from the form panel;

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of a form panel and a dotted representation of an identical form panel arranged in back to back relation and the panels nested together;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsectional view of a form panel with central portions broken away to leave just the end portions and portions adjacent to a rib and shows a dotted representation of an identical form panel arranged in back to back relation and the panels nested together;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of apparatus for building a wall and a portion of wall formed" Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a slab connect ing member;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a form'spacing member;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the apparatus at a gap in the form panels, the fragments of the form panels being shown in section; I

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the apparatus at a gap in the form panelsshowing a slab connecting member in place, the form panels being shown in section;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of superimposed form panels showing a method of alining the same;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view show- H ing a method of spacing and alining form panels;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view of a wall;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view of a Wall;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of apparatus for forming a floor and floor formed thereon.

The form panel 6 is shown in the first five figures of the drawings. The panel is preferably formed chiefly from a single piece of relatively thin sheet metal so shaped as to form a flat portion 8 providing a flat working face 9, longitudinal, braces 12 on the back of flat portion 8, and double thickness panel edges. These edges are made up of bevel faces 16, edge faces 15 perpendicular to face 9, bevel faces 17, and rear face 18 parallel to face 9. 8

' The form panel'is preferably braced by transverse braces 19,'each of which is preferably pressed from a single sheet and preferably has a cross section as shown in Fig. 5. Each transverse brace has flanges 20 adapted to lie against the backfo'f flat portion 8 and the backs of flanges 24 of braces 12, andhas end flanges 25 adapted to lie against the sloping side surfaces of longitudinal braces 12.

One edge of the form panel is braced with seats 26, preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal into the shape shown in Fig. 3. Seat 26 has a curved top surface 27 supported by inclined sides 28 which fit behind the panel edges and are provided with flanges 29 for fasten'inglOO to sides of braces 12 and flanges 30.

' The ends of braces 12 are folded down to form inclined end surfaces 31. Flat end surfaces for the panel are provided by channels 32 formed from relatively heavier material which also serve as transverse braces. Legs 33 of the channels are folded back to provide smooth roundedgesj 34 and the ends of the channels are cut to con'' form to the contour of the edgesof the panel. Legs 35of the channels are inserted between fiat portion 8 and flanges 24 and 30. The rounded edges 34 are contiguous to the inclined surfaces 31 and the backs of the channels are contiguous to the ends of the flanges 24 and 30.

At the same end of each of the panels, blocks 37 are fastened between the legs of channels 32. Holes 38 are provided through the blocks and the channels. Holes 39 are provided in the channels at the opposite ends of the panels so that, when one panel is placed on top of another as illustrated in Fig. 12, the two panels may be alined by dropping panel alining means 40, preferably. a nail, through holes 38 and 39.

In the structure of the form panel all contig uous edges and surfaces are preferably fastened together and all fastenings are made by welding or other means of suitably securing the metal together.

Braces 12 are positioned on the back of the form panel at unequal distances from the panel edges so that when one panel is placed back to back with another panel, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the two panels will slide automatically into alinement. The braces 12 are placed so that the sloping side surfaces of the braces on one form panel cooperate with the sloping side surfaces of the braces of the other panel to cause peak 43 of one panel to slide into the depressions 45 in the top surfaces 27 of the seats 26 on the other panel. When peak 43 is rested upon surfaces 27, it will slide thereon into depressions 45 and the edge faces 15 then will be in alinement. It is to be understood that other means may be used to perform the function of the seats 26 in causing the panels to nest together, for example, a single member may be used on each panel which is coextensive in length with the panel and presents a curved top surface similar to surface 27.

, Longitudinal alinement of two form panels placed back to back is automatically assured by inclined surfaces 31 of one panel coming in contact with the rounded edges 34 of the other form panel and causing the two panels to slide into the position illustrated in Fig. 5.

Formerly the flat sheets of form panels have been braced by angles having one leg projecting from the sheet. Blows have had a tendency to either bend the projecting leg, break the angle off the sheet, 'or bend the sheet. Braces of other shapes, such as channels, have had similar disadvantages. It is an objectof my invention to provide a light brace on a flat sheet of a form panel which can withstand blows without having a tendency to bend, break off the sheet, or bend the sheet, so that the sheet may be of relatively thin material. This object is accomplished by providing braces, formed of a relatively thin sheet material, having oppositely inclined sides.

To form the main part of the form panel of one sheet of metal as described requires special apparatus which sometimes is not available. One or more of the longitudinal braces may be formed of separate strips of metal. When this is done a preferred form of construction is as indicated at 54 in Fig. 10.

'Reference is particularly directed to Figures 6 to, 11, inclusive, for illustration of the use of the form panels for building walls and of the description of the apparatus for use with the form panels. An alining system is erected for constructing walls which comprises vertical pipes 1 supported by bases 48, short horizontal pipes 58, clamps 50 supporting pipes 58 on pipes 1, pipes 2 extending along one side of the predetermined wall position, clamps 59 supporting pipes 2 on pipes 58, rods 4 extending transversely of the area to be occupied by the wall, and clamps 5 holding rods 4 on pipes 2.

Reinforcing 7 is placed over and supported by rods 4. Backing is provided behind reinforcing 7 by placing panels 6 between vertical rows of rods 4 and pressing them against the reinforcing 7, thereby forcing the same tightly against clamps 5.

A pair of form spacing members 46 are placed on the rods 4 as shown in Fig. 10. Each panel spacing member 46 is preferably formed of a rectangular piece of sheet metal. It is cut and pressed into a shape providing a sleeve portion 47 and a bearing portion 51 which is preferably in the form of a flat portion as shown. The spacing members 46 are very inexpensive and may be provided of any desired length so as to space the form panels as desired. The length of each spacing member is the length of each rectangular sheet from which it is formed. These spacing members are formed in a die which deforms rectangular sheets of metal of any desired length. The die may be so constructed as to cut the rectangular sheets of the length desired at the same operation as forming the members.

Spacing members 46 are preferably placed over the pins 4 so that the bearing portions 51 extend horizontally to contact the rear faces 18 of the form panels. When placed as shown in i a hole to receive a rod 4 and is held in place bya collar 52 fitted over the rod and fixed to the rod by set screw 53.

To extend the form work to a height greater than the length of individual panels, the panels may be placed on top of each other and held in vertical .alinernent in the same manner as the panels on'the ground, or the panels may be partially alined as described with reference to Fig. 12. When partially alining the panels as described with reference to Fig. 12, the panels may be held at'their opposite edges at the level of one horizontal row of rods 4 and at their bases by just one pin 40 preferably placed through 1:

the center one of the holes 38 in each panel.

When thus supported the panels are sufiiciently rigid to function as backing in my method of building walls. 7

A slab connecting member, hereinafter referred to as a tie 14, is formed from sheet meta1 strips into the shape shown in Fig 8.

Ties 14 are inserted through openings of the reinforcing into the position between the form panelsillustrated in Fig. 11. As the ties 14 are pushed intoplace, the beveled faces 16 and 17 of the form panels serve to guide the relatively jagged ends through the gaps in the form panels. Each tie is supported at its ends by engagement with reinforcing 7 and 10. placed both horizontally and inclined, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 to provide a weblike structure to coact with wall slabs in providing a wall adapted to act as a series- Ties 14 are 1" Reinforcing '7 and 10 is preferably foraminous sheet material, such as wire mesh or expanded metal of a type adapted to reinforce layers of plastered material.

After the slab connecting members and layers of wire mesh are in place, cementitious material is plastered over the form faces to embed the reinforcing 7 and 10 and thus form the wall slabs. The cementitious material is forced into the recesses formed by the beveled faces 16 of adjoining panels to form projections to securely embed the ends of the ties.

As soon as the cementitious material has hardened set screws 53 are loosened, collars 52 and strips 11 are removed, rods 4 are released in clamps 5 and withdrawn. Then the spacing members 46 will drop. The forms are removed to leave a wall formed as illustrated by Figures 14 and 15.

The spacing members 46 are preferably formed of a very inexpensive material so that it is not necessary to salvage them from the space between the walls. If it is desired to salvage the spacing members they are preferably formed of a metal which is attracted by a magnet so that they may be removed with a magnet.

The rear faces 18 have been formed on the form panels in place of sharp or rounded edges which one might expect to find on sheet metal form panels. Such edges would not provide a good bearing surface for contacting with bearing portions 51 and would require the use of rel- .atively heavy material for the spacing members. "To get the necessary strength with the use of extremely thin and inexpensive material for spacing members 46, it is necessasry to provide bearing faces 18 for contacting with bearing portions 51.

The fact that the spacing members 46 are adapted to be provided of any desired length and at a very low cost makes possible their use in spacing the form panels in the erection of structures on a commercial basis.

Fig. 13 illustrates another method of holding the form panels in place for building a wall. A base 54 is provided with upstanding pegs 55 at horizontally spaced intervals to register with two or more holes 38 in each form panel. The form panels are placed with the holes 38 registering with pegs 55. An alining member 56 is placed over the tops of the panels and pins 57 are placed vertically therethrough in positions to register with two or more holes 39 in each of the panels, and thus space and aline the panels at the top. When a wall is formed against a row of panels supported as just described and the cementitious material has sufficiently hardened, the alining member 56 is lifted vertically to remove the pins 57 and thus release the panels at the top. The panels are then lifted vertically off of pegs 55 and removed through the unfinished top of the wall.

The form panels 6 are also adapted to be used in floor construction. Fig. 16 shows a form panel spanning the space between a pair of beam forms 22 and resting with rear faces thereon in supporting contact with ledges 42 of the beam forms. The fiat rear faces 18 of the form panels provide a much better bearing surface for contacting with the ledges 42 than a sharp edge of a form panel would.

The form panels may be made of other materials and used for other purposes than those herein described.

While preferred forms of this invention have been described, it is to be understood that the drawings and the description thereof are to be considered as illustrative of, rather than limitative upon, the broader claims because it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for constructing a wall that includes a row of vertical form panels arranged in edge to edge relation to provide a vertical form face and being spaced to provide intervening gaps; a separable alining system engaging the backs of the panels and including rods extending through the gaps and crosswise with respect to the form face; strips for holding reinforcing against the form face, each of said strips being slidably mounted on one of the rods; and clamping elements on the rods, said elements being cooperable with the rods and said strips for holding reinforcing flat against the form face.

2. A form panel comprising a flat sheet of relatively thin material and transverse and longitudinal braces attached to the back side of the sheet, said braces being shaped to provide .oppositely inclined sides having integral flanges at their diverging extremities fastened to said sheet and each of the longitudinal braces being formed integrally with said sheet and each of the trans verse braces being'formed of a single piece of relatively thin sheet material.

3. A form panel comprising a sheet of relatively thin material having a flat portion providing a working face and a folded portion providing longitudinal braces, and transverse-brases, said longitudinal braces and said transverse braces being shaped to provide oppositely inclined sides and being fastened to the back side of the flat portion of the sheet at the diverging extremities of the inclined sides.

4. A form panel comprising a sheet of relatively thin material having a flat portion providing a working face and a folded portion providing longitudinal braces, said longitudinal braces being shaped to provide oppositely inclined sides and being fastened to the back side of the fiat portion of the sheet at the diverging extremities of the inclined sides.

5. In a form panel having a piece of sheet material providing a working face, portions of the sheet bent rearwardly from said face to form side faces of the form panel and portions continuing rearwardly and inwardly from said side faces so that when two such form panels are placed side by side and spaced apart said rearwardly continuing portions of the adjacent panels form flaring guides to direct transverse members between the panels.

6. A form panel comprising a fiat sheet providing a working face, longitudinal braces attached to the back side of the sheet and having inclined sides, transverse braces at each end of the panel, and seat members on the back side of the sheet having top surfaces downwardly inclined toward one of said longitudinal braces; said longitudinal braces being located so that when two panels are placed in back to back relation, the longitudinal braces of each panelcooperate with the seat members and the inclined sides of the braces of the other panels to trans versely aline the panels.

'7. A form panel comprising a flat sheet proend of the panel, and seat members on the back side of the sheet having top surfaces downwardly inclined toward one of said longitudinal braces; said longitudinal braces being shaped to provide oppositely inclined end surfaces and being positioned so that when two panels are placed in back to back relation, the inclined end surfaces of one panel cooperate with the end braces of the other panel to longitudinally aline the panels and so that the longitudinal braces of each panel cooperate with the seat members and the inclined sides of the braces of the other panel to transversely aline the panels.

8. A form panel comprising a flat sheet providing a working face, a transverse brace extending across each end of the panel and attached to the back side of the sheet, and longitudinal braces attached to the back side of the sheet and extending between the transverse braces; the transverse braces being of less height than the longitudinal braces, and the longitudinal braces being located asyrnetrically on the panel so that two panels placed in back to back relation telescope together to occupy a space less than twice the thickness of a single panel.

9. A form panel comprising a piece of sheet material having a fiat portion providing a working face at its front side, rearwardly extending portions at'the sides of the fiat portion, and beveled portions forming continuations of the rearwardly extending portions providing guides for directing slab-connecting members between V the adjacent edge of the panel and an adjacent edge of a corresponding panel; longitudinal braces formed of sheet material, integrally joined to the back side of the flat portion and spaced from the aforestated beveled portions; and transverse braces attached to the back side of said flat portion.

10. A form panel comprising a single piece of sheet material having a flat portion providing a working face at its front side, rearwardly extending portions at the sides of the flat portion, beveled portions forming continuations of the rearwardly extending portions providing guides for directing slab-connecting members between the adjacent edge of the panel and an adjacent edge of a corresponding panel, longitudinal braces attached to the back side of the flat portion and spaced a definite distance away from the aforestated beveled portions, and portions joining the beveled portions with the longitudinal braces; and transverse braces attached to the back side of the flat portion of said single piece of sheet material.

11. A form panel comprising a rigid structure open at one side and provided at its other side with a working face, said rigid structure including means to facilitate transverse alinement of said panel with a corresponding panel, comprising upstanding braces extending across the structure at the ends thereof and panel guiding means angularly disposed with respect to the upstanding braces and extending beyond the open side of said structure and beyond the up standing braces for engagement with upstanding braces of a corresponding panel during a placing or" said structure against the open side of the corresponding panel.

,NEAL GARRETT. 

